Machine arrangement and method for sequential processing of sheet-type substrates

ABSTRACT

A machine arrangement, that sequentially processes sheet-type substrates, includes a plurality of different processing stations, one of which includes a non-impact printing device that prints the substrates. Further processing stations are a primer application device that primes the substrates and a dryer for drying the primer applied to the substrates. The primer application device and the dryer precede the non-impact printing device, in the direction of travel of the substrates. The processing station including the non-impact printing device, also includes a printing cylinder, on the circumference of which, the non-impact printing device that prints the substrates is arranged.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/757,600, filed Mar. 6, 2018. That application is the U.S.National Phase, under 35 U.S.C. § 371, of PCT/EP2016/069066, filed Aug.10, 2016; published as WO2017/041981A1 on Mar. 16, 2017 and claimingpriority to DE 10 2015 217 229.5, filed Sep. 9, 2015, and toPCT/EP2016/059647, filed Apr. 29, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a machine arrangement having aplurality of different processing stations for the sequential processingof sheet-type substrates, and to a method for the sequential processingof sheet-type substrates. The machine comprises a plurality of differentprocessing stations. One of these processing stations includes anon-impact printing unit for printing each of the substrates. A primerapplication unit, for priming each of the substrates, and a dryer, fordrying the primer applied to the substrates in question, are provided asadditional processing stations. The primer application unit and thedryer are each located upstream of the non-impact printing unit in atransport direction of the substrates in question. The processingstation that comprises the non-impact printing unit includes a printingcylinder. The non-impact printing unit for printing each of thesubstrates is located on the periphery of the printing cylinder. Theprimer application unit is situated for applying the primer to the frontside of each of the substrates and the dryer is situated for drying thefront side of each of the primed substrates. In the method for thesequential processing of sheet-type substrates, in which the substratesare each processed one after the other on one of a front and a back sideof the production line, a plurality of different processing stations areutilized. In each case, a printing ink or ink is applied to therespective side of each of the substrates in a processing stationcomprising at least one non-impact printing unit. Prior to theapplication of any printing ink or ink to the side in question of thesubstrates, an undercoating of an initial coating is first applied in adifferent processing station. Prior to the application of any printingink or ink to the side in question of the substrates, the undercoatingor initial coating is dried in a further processing station. Theapplication of the undercoating or initial coating to the side inquestion of the substrates is carried out, in each case, in a processingstation which is embodied as a primer application unit or in aprocessing station which is embodied as a cold foil application unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO 2004/013704 A1 describes a digital printing machine for directnon-contact sheet-fed printing having a digital printing couple that isunformatted in the circumferential direction, and having a transportapparatus downstream from the digital printing couple, wherein thetransport apparatus has grippers for holding sheets on its periphery,the transport apparatus preferably having a plurality of transportcylinders and/or transport belts and/or impression cylinders.

EP 2 540 513 A1 describes a machine arrangement for the sequentialprocessing of a plurality of sheet-type substrates, each having a frontside and a back side, said machine arrangement comprising a firstprinting cylinder and a second printing cylinder, wherein at least onefirst non-impact printing unit, which prints the front side of thesubstrate in question, and a dryer, which dries the front side of thesubstrate in question that has been printed by the first non-impactprinting unit, are arranged downstream from the first non-impactprinting unit in the direction of rotation of the first printingcylinder, each on the periphery of the first printing cylinder, whereinat least one second non-impact printing unit, which prints the back sideof the substrate in question, and a dryer, which dries the back side ofthe substrate in question that has been printed by the second non-impactprinting unit, are arranged downstream from the second non-impactprinting unit in the direction of rotation of the second printingcylinder, each on the periphery of the second printing cylinder, whereinthe first printing cylinder and the second printing cylinder arearranged such that they form a common roller nip, wherein in this commonroller nip, the first printing cylinder transfers the substrate inquestion, which has been printed on the front side and dried, directlyto the second printing cylinder.

DE 103 12 870 A1 describes a digital printing machine for sheet-fedprinting, having a digital printing couple that is format-free in thecircumferential direction, an intermediate cylinder downstream from thedigital printing couple, coated at least partially with an elasticmaterial, and an impression cylinder downstream from the intermediatecylinder, wherein the impression cylinder has sheet-retaining grippersand the intermediate cylinder has recesses on its periphery foraccommodating the grippers.

DE 10 2014 010 904 B3 describes an apparatus for two-sided printing ofsheet-type printing stock, wherein the printing stock is guided aroundmore than 360° on an impression cylinder, wherein the active region ofan ink application unit, which has already printed the front side of theprinting stock on an impression cylinder upstream, is re-entered by theprinting stock, this time with its back side facing the ink applicationunit, wherein the ink application unit can preferably be pivoted betweentwo impression cylinders disposed downstream from one another, andwherein the pivotable ink application unit is an inkjet print head, forexample.

DE 10 2009 000 518 A1 describes a sheet-fed printing machine having afeed unit for loading printing sheets to be printed into the sheet-fedprinting machine, and having at least one printing couple and/or coatingunit for printing the printing sheets with a static print image that isidentical for all printing sheets, and having a delivery unit fordischarging printed sheets from the sheet-fed printing machine, andhaving at least one printing forme-free printing unit integrated intothe sheet-fed printing machine for printing the printing sheet with adynamic, variable print image in particular, wherein the/each printingforme-free printing unit is integrated into the sheet-fed printingmachine, where it can be controlled as a function of the processparameters or operating parameters or order parameters or qualityparameters.

A printing machine having a plurality of printing couples that printjointly onto a printing stock is known from DE 10 2013 211 250 A1,wherein at least two of these printing couples are arranged in a row,one behind the other, along a transport path provided for the printingstock, wherein at least one of these printing couples arranged in therow is embodied as an inkjet system, wherein the inkjet system inquestion is embodied such that this inkjet system prints informationthat varies or at least is variable during an ongoing printing processonto a target surface provided on the printing stock.

From DE 10 2005 021 185 A1, a device for applying opaque white or aneffect color layer is known, wherein after the effect color layer isapplied, it is dried or cured and then overprinted, wherein one or moreinkjet print heads are provided within a printing machine, wherein theinkjet print head(s) for applying the opaque white layer or effect layerdirectly to the printing stock or indirectly to the printing stock viaan intermediate carrier is/are located upstream of the infeed into orwithin the printing machine in the transport path of the printing stock.

EP 1 839 903 A2 discloses a method for transferring image-providingand/or covering or overlaying application layers from a transfer film toprinting sheets in a sheet-processing machine, in particular a rotarysheet-processing machine, wherein the machine comprises at least oneapplication mechanism for providing a printing sheet with animage-matching or full-surface adhesive coating, and at least onecoating mechanism for transferring image-providing or covering layersfrom the transfer film to the printing sheets, wherein in a coatingmechanism, a transfer nip is formed and the transfer film is placed onthe surface of a pressing roller with the coated side on a printingsheet, and can be guided under pressure, together with said sheet,through the transfer nip, so that the image-providing or covering layersare transferred from the transfer film, adhering to the printing sheetin areas that are furnished with adhesive, wherein rigid-elasticprinting sheets in the form of sheet metal panels or plastic panels aresupplied to the printing machine, and are provided on at least oneprinted or coated, or one unprinted or uncoated first side in a transfernip with an image-matching or full-surface foil coating from thetransfer film, and wherein before and/or after application of the foilcoating, the metal or plastic printing sheets are dried.

DE 10 2012 218 840 A1 discloses a method for transferring a detachableimage-providing transfer layer from a transfer film to printing sheetsthat have been furnished with an adhesive coating by means of a coatingmechanism, which contains an impression cylinder and a pressing rollerthat form a common transfer nip, through which the transfer film can beguided from a film supply roll, touching the pressing roller, such thatthe transfer film is guided, together with the printing sheet, throughthe transfer nip with the transfer layer resting on the printing sheet,which is guided on the impression cylinder, and under pressure for thepurpose of transferring the coating, a) wherein adhesive is applied inthe application unit to the printing sheet in a manner matching theimage, b) wherein in the transfer nip, a subject on the transfer layeris transferred, under pressure, from the transfer film to the printingsheet that is provided with the adhesive image, c) wherein a protectivelayer is applied at least to the transfer layer applied in this way tothe printing sheet, d) wherein after the protective layer is applied,the protective layer is dried on the printing sheet, and e) wherein oncethe protective layer has been dried, the printing sheet is overprintedwith an image over a portion or all of its planar extension, includingtransfer layer and protective layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is create a machine arrangement anda method, each for the sequential processing of a plurality ofsheet-type substrates.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the provision ofthe non-impact printing unit being situated for printing the front sideof each of the substrates. Three or four substrates are, or at least canbe, arranged, one behind the other in each case, in the circumferentialdirection on the circumferential surface of each printing cylinder. Afeed unit and a rocking gripper, that cooperates with a transfer drum,are provided. The substrates are picked up in the feed unit and aretransferred individually, by use of the rocking gripper, to the transferdrum and from there are transferred to a rotating impression cylinder.The processing station that comprises the primary application unit forpriming the front side of each of the substrates includes a printingcouple cylinder, which cooperates with the impression cylinder and whichhas a forme roller in the form of an anilox roller which is, or at leastcan be, thrown onto this printing couple cylinder, and also includes atleast one doctor blade that extends in the axial direction of the formeroller or an ink chamber blade system. The substrates that have beenprocessed by one of the application of an undercoating or of an initialcoating or by an application of printing ink or ink are dried using oneof hot air and by irradiation with infrared radiation.

The advantages achieved with the invention will be clear from thefollowing descriptions.

The approach described here can be used in a hybrid machine arrangementfor processing sheet-type substrates, preferably in a hybrid printingmachine that variably utilizes the high productivity of a conventionalprinting unit that prints, for example, by an offset printing method orby a flexographic printing method or by a screen printing method, or acoating unit, in particular a coating unit, in combination with at leastone non-impact printing unit embodied as an inkjet printer, for example,that prints variable printed images in a flexible manner, wherein theconventional printing unit or coating unit and the non-impact printingunit are each used in an ongoing inline production process, each at itsoptimum working speed. Such a hybrid machine arrangement is veryadvantageous in particular for the production of packaging means, forexample, sheets for the production of folding boxes, because thestrengths of each one of the printing units can be utilized, resultingin a flexible and economical production of the packaging means.Transporting sheet-type substrates by means of rotating bodies, inparticular cylinders and gripper bars or gripper carriages, each ofwhich transfers the sheet-type substrates in a gripper closure to a nextfollowing processing station, as is known from sheet-fed offset printingmachines, ensures the highest possible register accuracy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawingsand described in greater detail below.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram to illustrate the various production lines;

FIG. 2 shows a first machine arrangement having a plurality of differentprocessing stations;

FIGS. 3 to 8 show additional machine arrangements, each having aplurality of different processing stations;

FIG. 9 shows a machine arrangement for two-sided sequential processingof a plurality of sheet-type substrates;

FIG. 10 shows another machine arrangement without a turning device fortwo-sided sequential processing of a plurality of sheet-type substrates;

FIG. 11 shows yet another machine arrangement having a turning devicefor two-sided sequential processing of a plurality of sheet-typesubstrates;

FIG. 12 shows a machine arrangement having substrate guide elements ofdifferent lengths;

FIGS. 13 to 15 show machine arrangements having a printing cylinder anda transfer drum in various formats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating various production lines, eachbeing implementable with a machine arrangement having a plurality ofdifferent processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, inparticular, for processing at least one sheet-type substrate, inparticular a printing stock, preferably a printing sheet, which isrectangular in particular, or more simply a sheet, wherein this at leastone substrate is embodied as rigid or flexible, depending on thematerial, the thickness of the material and/or the base weight. Each ofthese processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 ispreferably embodied as an independently functional module, for example,wherein a module should be understood to be a machine unit or functionalsubassembly that is typically manufactured separately or at least isinstalled separately in its own frame. Each of processing stations 01;02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 disposed in the respective machinearrangement is thus preferably manufactured separately, and in apreferred embodiment can be tested individually in terms of itsfunction, for example. Each machine arrangement, which is formed byselecting and assembling at least three different sheet processingstations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 that cooperate in aspecific production process, embodies a specific production line. Eachof the production lines shown, embodied as a certain machine arrangementhaving a plurality of processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08;09; 11; 12, is configured in particular for the production of apackaging means formed from the printing stock, preferably from theprinted sheet. Each of the packaging means to be produced is, e.g. afolding box, which is produced from printed sheets. The variousproduction lines are therefore configured in particular for producingdifferent packaging means. The processing of the printing stock that isrequired during a specific production process is carried out inline,i.e., the processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12that are involved in a specific production process are used one afteranother in an ordered sequence and in coordination with one another asthe printing stock passes through the machine arrangement selected forsaid production process and comprising the respective processingstations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, without providingintermediate storage for the printing stock, i.e., the processed sheets,during the production process carried out by said machine arrangement.

All of the production lines shown in FIG. 1 have in common the fact thatthey each cooperate with a processing station 06 comprising at least onenon-impact printing unit 06, preferably a plurality of non-impactprinting units 06, for example, four, five, six or seven, each inparticular individually controlled, wherein these non-impact printingunits 06 are preferably arranged one behind the other in transportdirection T of the printing stock and are embodied to be able to printthe printing stock at least nearly over its entire width transversely totransport direction T. A non-impact printing unit 06 uses a printingmethod without a fixed printing forme and can in principle print theprinting stock, e.g. a sheet that has just been supplied to saidprinting unit 06, with a print image that is different from the printimage that preceded it, from one printing to the next. Each non-impactprinting unit 06 is implemented in particular as at least one inkjetprinter or as at least one laser printer. Inkjet printers are matrixprinters, in which a print image is created by the targeted ejection ordeflection of small ink droplets, such that the inkjet printer isembodied either as a device with a continuous ink jet (continuous inkjet=CIJ) or as a device that sprays individual ink droplets (drop ondemand=DOD). Laser printers produce print images by anelectrophotography method. Non-impact printing unit 06 is also referredto as a digital printing machine, for example.

In the following discussion, it is assumed by way of example that asequence of flexurally rigid sheets, in particular, e.g. of a paper, asingle-layer or multilayer paperboard or a cardboard, are processed inthe respective machine arrangement by a plurality of processing stations01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, in particular to produce apackaging means. Paper, paperboard and cardboard as printing stockdiffer in their respective base weight, i.e., the weight in grams for asquare meter of this printing stock. In general, the aforementionedprinting stock having a base weight between 7 g/m² and 150 g/m² isclassified as paper, between 150 g/m² and 600 g/m² is paperboard andmore than 600 g/m² is cardboard. Paperboard, which has good printabilityand is suitable for a subsequent finishing or processing such as coatingand punching, is used in particular to produce folding boxes. In termsof pulp content, these types of cardboard may be, for example,wood-free, may have a low wood content or some wood content, or maycontain recycled paper. In terms of construction, multilayer paperboardshave a cover layer, an insert and a substrate as a back side. In termsof surface properties, paperboards may be uncoated, pigmented, coated orcast-coated, for example. The sheet format may range from 340 mm×480 mmto 740 mm×1060 mm, for example, with the first number in the formatspecification typically indicating the length in transport direction Tof the sheets, and the second number representing the width of the sheetorthogonally to transport direction T.

In the block diagram in FIG. 1, each production line that can berepresented with a plurality of processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06;07; 08; 09; 11; 12 runs substantially from right to left, with each ofthe directional arrows that connect two processing stations 01; 02; 03;04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to one another indicating a transport path tobe traveled by the printing stock and the associated transport directionT for traveling from one processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08;09; 11; 12 to the next processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08;09; 11; 12 selected in the machine arrangement intended for therespective production process. Each production process begins withsheets being provided in processing station 01, with processing station01 being embodied as a feed unit 01, e.g. as a sheet feed unit 01 or asa magazine feed unit 01. A sheet feed unit 01 typically receives a pileof sheets stacked on a pallet, for example, whereas a magazine feed unit01 comprises a plurality of compartments, into each of which sheets, inparticular piles of different types of sheets or sheets of differentformats, are or at least can be inserted. Feed unit 01 separates thestacked sheets for single feed, for example, by means of a suction head41, and guides them in a sequence of separated sheets or in a shingledstream to the next processing station 02; 03; 04; 06 in the specificproduction process. The next processing station 02; 03; 04 is embodied,for example, as a primer application unit 02 or as a cold foilapplication unit 03 or as an offset printing unit 04 or as aflexographic printing unit 04. The next processing station 06 may alsobe, e.g. the at least one non-impact printing unit 06 directly. Offsetprinting unit 04 is preferably embodied as a sheet-fed offset printingmachine, in particular as a sheet-fed printing machine having aplurality of printing couples 86 arranged based on the unit constructionprinciple. Offset printing unit 04 provides the sheets with at least onestatic print image, i.e., a print image that does not vary during theprinting process because it is bound to the printing forme used, whereasnon-impact printing unit 06 provides the sheets with at least one printimage that varies or is at least variable.

If the processing station 03 immediately following feed unit 01 is thecold foil application unit 03, then the sheet is typically transportedfrom there to processing station 04, embodied as offset printing unit04. In coil foil application unit 03, a metallized coating layer that isreleased from a carrier film is transferred to the printing stock. Awide variety of different metal effects can be achieved by overprintingthis coating layer with an offset printing unit 04, for example. Coldfoil application unit 03 is advantageously embodied as integrated intooffset printing unit 04, for example, in that two additional printingcouples 87; 88 are provided in offset printing unit 04. A specialadhesive is applied to the printing stock, i.e., the sheet, by means ofa standard printing forme in the first printing couple 87 in transportdirection T of the printing stock. A second printing couple 88 intransport direction T of the printing stock is furnished with a filmtransfer device having the coating layer to be transferred. The filmthat carries the coating layer is guided from an unwinding station to apress nip between a transfer cylinder and a printing cylinder thatcooperates with this transfer cylinder, and is thereby brought intocontact with the printing stock. An aluminum layer and a protectivecoating layer, the coloring of which influences the color effect,provide coloring in the coating layer. By adhesion of an adhesive layerto the glue layer printed thereon, the transfer layers are left adheringto the substrate. The backing film is then wound up again. After thecold foil transfer, overprinting using conventional printing inks and UVinks and hybrid inks is possible inline, in particular in offsetprinting unit 04, in order to produce a variety of metallic colorshades.

A printing stock, which is particularly absorbent, for example, and/oris to be prepared for printing in a non-impact printing unit 06, issupplied by feed unit 01 to the next processing station 02, embodied,for example, as a primer application unit 02 for coating at least onesurface of the printing stock with a water-based primer, for example, inparticular to seal the surface prior to printing or coating. Priminginvolves an undercoating or initial coating of the printing stock toimprove or enable adhesion of an ink or printing ink to be appliedthereafter to the printing stock. Primer application unit 02 is formed,for example, in combination with a printing couple 86 of a rotaryprinting machine and comprises, for example, a printing couple cylinder82 that cooperates with an impression cylinder 119 and includes a formeroller 83, preferably in the form of an anilox roller 83, which is or atleast can be thrown onto this printing couple cylinder 82, as well as atleast one doctor blade 84, in particular an ink chamber blade system 84extending in the axial direction of the forme roller 83 (FIGS. 3 through5, 8, 9). The primer is applied to the printing stock either over itsfull surface area or to only certain, i.e., previously defined, areas,i.e. partially, by means of primer application unit 02. The printingstock, e.g. sheets, processed in primer application unit 02, is fed, forexample, to an offset printing unit 04 and/or a non-impact printing unit06 as the next processing station.

The flexographic printing carried out by a processing station 04,embodied, e.g. as a flexographic printing unit 04, is a directletterpress method, in which the raised areas of the printing forme areimage-carrying areas, and which is frequently used for printingpackaging materials made of paper, paperboard or cardboard, metallizedfilm, or a plastic such as PE, PET, PVC, PS, PP, PC. In flexographicprinting, low-viscosity printing inks and flexible printing plates madeof photopolymer or rubber are used. In general, a flexographic printingunit 04 includes a) an anilox roller, by means of which the printingforme is inked, b) a printing cylinder, also known as a forme cylinder,to which the printing forme is attached, and c) an impression cylinder,which guides the printing stock.

Processing station 04, which is embodied as flexographic printing unit04 or as offset printing unit 04 and prints each of the sheets with atleast one static print image, preferably has a plurality of printingcouples 86, e.g. at least four, wherein each printing couple 86preferably prints with a different printing ink, so that the printingstock is printed in multiple colors, for example, in four-colorprinting, as it passes through flexographic printing unit 04 or offsetprinting unit 04. The color shades yellow, magenta, cyan and black inparticular are used as the printing inks. In an alternative embodimentof printing unit 04 to the flexographic printing method or the offsetprinting method, the processing station 04 that prints the sheets withat least one static print image each is embodied as a printing unit 04that prints by a screen printing method.

After the printing stock has been processed in at least one non-impactprinting unit 06, this printing stock is sent to a processing station 07embodied, for example, as an intermediate dryer 07, wherein thisintermediate dryer 07 is embodied as a dryer that dries the printingstock in question by irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation,with the type of radiation being dependent in particular on whether theink or printing ink applied to the printing stock is water-based or UVcuring. After intermediate drying, the printing stock is sent to aprocessing station 08 embodied as a coating unit 08, for example.Coating unit 08 applies a dispersion coating, for example, to theprinting stock, dispersion coatings consisting essentially of water andbinders (resins), with surfactants stabilizing these dispersions. Acoating unit 08 that applies a dispersion coating to the printing stockconsists either of an anilox roller, an ink chamber blade and a formeroller (comparable to a flexographic printing couple), or of a dippingroller and forme roller. Flat and/or partial coatings are applied bymeans of a printing forme, preferably based on photopolymerization, forexample. Special coating plates made of rubber may also be used forfull-surface coatings. Downstream of coating unit 08, a processingstation 09 embodied, e.g. as a dryer 09 is arranged in the transportpath of the printing stock, wherein this dryer 09 is embodied as a dryerthat dries the printing stock in question by irradiation with infraredradiation or by hot air. If the machine arrangement in question hasmultiple dryers 07; 09 along the transport path of the printing stock,then the dryer with reference numeral 09 is preferably the last of thesemultiple dryers 07; 09 in transport direction T of the printing stock,wherein intermediate dryer(s) 07 and (final) dryer 09 are embodiedidentically or may also be embodied differently. If a printing stockthat dries by ultraviolet radiation will be supplied to dryer 09, i.e.,a printing stock on which an ink or printing ink that cures by UVradiation or a coating that cures by UV radiation, for example, a glossycoating, is applied, then this dryer 09 is equipped with a radiationsource that generates ultraviolet radiation. More intense glossy effectsand matte effects can be achieved with dispersion coatings as comparedwith the traditional oil printing coating. Special visual effects can beachieved with effect pigments in the coating. Primer application unit02, cold foil application unit 03 and coating unit 08 can be combinedunder the umbrella term of coating unit 02; 03; 08.

After drying, the printing stock is sent to a processing station 11, forexample, which carries out a mechanical further processing of theprinting stock, for example, by punching, creasing and/or cutting parts,in particular separating copies from their attachment in the preferablyprinted sheet. Each of the aforementioned types of further processing iscarried out in and/or by a processing unit 46. Mechanical furtherprocessing is preferably carried out in cooperation with a cylindertransporting the respective sheet. Afterward or directly from dryer 09,the printing stock is transferred to a delivery 12, which forms the lastprocessing station 12 in each of the production lines formed by aspecific arrangement of processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08;09; 11; 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The previously processed sheetsare preferably stacked on a pallet, for example, in delivery 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 8, the aforementioned sequence ofprocessing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 included inthe machine arrangement may be modified only by way of example anddependent upon the printed product to be produced in each case.

In the production lines illustrated in FIG. 1 by way of example and usedin particular for the production of packaging means, each productionline comprise a machine arrangement having a selection of the group ofaforementioned processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11;12. The following production lines are or at least can be formed, forexample:

-   1. Sheet feed unit 01; primer application unit 02; non-impact    printing unit 06; intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source for    dispersion coating; coating unit 08; dryer 09 with IR radiation    source or hot air; delivery 12-   2. Sheet feed unit 01; primer application unit 02; non-impact    printing unit 06; dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air;    delivery 12-   3. Sheet feed unit 01; primer application unit 02; non-impact    printing unit 06; intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source;    coating unit 08 for dispersion coating and UV curing coating; dryer    09 with IR radiation source or hot air and with UV radiation source;    delivery 12-   4. Sheet feed unit 01; cold foil application unit 03; offset    printing unit 04; non-impact printing unit 06; dryer 09 with IR    radiation source or hot air; delivery 12-   5. Sheet feed unit 01; primer application unit 02; non-impact    printing unit 06; intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source for    dispersion coating; coating unit 08; dryer 09 with IR radiation    source or hot air; mechanical further processing unit 11; delivery    12-   6. Sheet feed unit 01; offset printing unit 04; non-impact printing    unit 06; intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source; mechanical    further processing unit 11; delivery 12-   7. Sheet feed unit 01; non-impact printing unit 06; dryer 09 with IR    radiation source or hot air; delivery 12-   8. Sheet feed unit 01; non-impact printing unit 06; intermediate    dryer 07 with UV radiation source; dryer 09 with UV radiation    source; delivery 12-   9. Sheet feed unit 01; non-impact printing unit 06; intermediate    dryer 07 with UV radiation source; dryer 09 with UV radiation    source; mechanical further processing unit 11; delivery 12-   10. Sheet feed unit 01; non-impact printing unit 06; intermediate    dryer 07 with IR radiation source; offset printing unit 04; coating    unit 08; dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; delivery 12-   11. Magazine feed unit 01; primer application unit 02; non-impact    printing unit 06; intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source;    coating unit 08; dryer 09 with IR radiation or hot air; delivery 12-   12. Magazine feed unit 01; primer application unit 02; non-impact    printing unit 06; intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source;    dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; mechanical further    processing unit 11; delivery 12-   13. Magazine feed unit 01; non-impact printing unit 06; intermediate    dryer 07 with UV radiation source; coating unit 08; dryer 09 with UV    radiation source; delivery 12

At least one of processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12that cooperates with the at least one non-impact printing unit 06 isselected to participate in the processing of sheets depending on whetherthe printing ink to be applied to the sheet by non-impact printing unit06, in particular, is embodied as a water-based ink or printing ink oras a UV radiation-curing ink or printing ink. The machine arrangement isthus embodied for printing each of the sheets with a water-basedprinting ink or with a printing ink that cures by UV radiation.

Additional machine arrangements that will be explained in greater detailin reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 and that include a selection from thegroup of aforementioned processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08;09; 11; 12 provide production lines, for example, having essentially thefollowing processing stations: sheet feed unit 01; first primerapplication unit 02; first dryer 121; first non-impact printing unit 06;second dryer 122; second primer application unit 126; third dryer 123;second non-impact printing unit 127; fourth dryer 124; delivery 12.

One advantageous machine arrangement mentioned as an example here has aplurality of processing stations for processing sheets, wherein aplurality of processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12are arranged one behind the other in transport direction T of the sheetsfor inline processing of these sheets, wherein at least one of theseprocessing stations 06 is embodied as a non-impact printing unit 06,wherein a first processing station 01 upstream of non-impact printingunit 06 in transport direction T of the sheets is embodied as a sheetfeed unit 01 or as a magazine feed unit 01, wherein a processing station08 located between first processing station 01 and non-impact printingunit 06 is embodied as a first coating unit 08, which applies a coatingto each of the sheets, wherein a first dryer 07 is located between firstcoating unit 08 and non-impact printing unit 06, wherein a firsttransport cylinder assembly 17 is situated for transporting the sheetsfrom first dryer 07 to non-impact printing unit 06, wherein a seconddryer 07 is located downstream of non-impact printing unit 06 intransport direction T of the sheets, wherein a device for transferringthe sheets coming from non-impact printing unit 06 to second coatingunit 08 is provided, wherein a third dryer 09 is located downstream ofsecond coating unit 08, and wherein a delivery 12 for the sheets islocated downstream of the third dryer 09 in transport direction T of thesheets. In addition, a mechanical further processing unit 11 may belocated between third dryer 09 and delivery 12. Further, a coating unit03 that applies a cold foil, for example, is located upstream ofnon-impact printing unit 06 in transport direction T of the sheets.Non-impact printing unit 06 preferably has a plurality of individuallycontrolled inkjet printers along the transport path of the sheets. Inthe active region of non-impact printing unit 06, the sheets arepreferably guided such that they each rest flat on a transportapparatus, wherein the transport apparatus has a curved transport pathfor the sheets, at least in the active region of non-impact printingunit 06, the transport apparatus being embodied as a printing cylinder22 in the active region of non-impact printing unit 06. Upstream ofnon-impact printing unit 06 in transport direction T of the sheets, atransfer device is provided, for example, wherein the transfer devicealigns the sheets, for example, at least in their axial register and/orcircumferential register, so that they maintain register accuracyrelative to the printing position of non-impact printing unit 06,wherein the transfer device has a suction drum 32, for example, whichholds each sheet by means of suction air. This machine arrangement isembodied to print each of the sheets, in particular, with a water-basedprinting ink or with a printing ink that cures under ultravioletradiation. This machine arrangement is embodied in particular forproducing various packaging means. The device for transferring thesheets coming from non-impact printing unit 06 to second coating unit 08is embodied as a second transport cylinder assembly 19, for example.

FIG. 2 shows as an example a machine arrangement having a plurality ofprocessing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 according toproduction line No. 6 defined above. Sheets are gripped individuallyfrom a pile in a sheet feed unit 01 using a suction head 41, forexample, and are transferred one after another in a cycle of 10,000units per hour, for example, to an offset printing unit 04 having, forexample, four printing couples 86 arranged in a row. For transferringthe sheets from one printing couple 86 to the next arranged in a row, arotating body, in particular a cylinder, preferably a transfer drum 43is provided, each transfer drum being arranged between two immediatelyadjacent printing couples 86. Offset printing unit 04 receives thesheets supplied to it by sheet feed unit 01, for example, with a rockinggripper 13 and guides the sheets to a transfer drum 14 of offsetprinting unit 04, wherein the sheets are then guided from one printingcouple 86 to the next in a gripper closure in offset printing unit 04.The sheets are printed on at least one side in offset printing unit 04.If a turning device 23 is present, the sheets can also be printed onboth sides in offset printing unit 04, i.e., in perfecting printing.After passing through processing station 04, which is embodied here asan offset printing unit 04, for example, the sheet in question,preferably printed in four colors, is transferred by means of firsttransport cylinder assembly 17 to a non-impact printing unit 06.Non-impact printing unit 06 preferably comprises a plurality of inkjetprinters, for example five, arranged in a linear row, in particular witheach being controlled individually. The sheets that have been providedwith at least one static print image in offset printing unit 04 and withat least one varying or at least variable print image in non-impactprinting unit 06 are then dried in a dryer 07 or intermediate dryer 07,preferably with an IR radiation source. After that, the sheets areprocessed further in a mechanical further processing unit 11, forexample, by punching and/or creasing and/or separating copies from therespective sheet. Lastly, the sheets and/or copies separated from thesheets are collected in a delivery 12, in particular being stacked. Inthe active region of first gripper system 16 and/or of the first chainconveyor 16, a delivery 12, in particular a multi-pile delivery, may beprovided along the transport path provided for the sheets. A multi-piledelivery is likewise arranged, for example, downstream of mechanicalfurther processing unit 11 in transport direction T of the sheets.

The sheets picked up from a pile in feed unit 01, in particular in sheetfeed unit 01, are transported individually, spaced from one another,through offset printing unit 04 at a first transport speed. Sheetstransferred from offset printing unit 04 to non-impact printing unit 06are transported in said non-impact printing unit 06 at a secondtransport speed, wherein the second transport speed prevailing innon-impact printing unit 06 is typically lower than the first transportspeed prevailing in offset printing unit 04. To adapt the firsttransport speed prevailing in offset printing unit 04 to the typicallylower second transport speed prevailing in non-impact printing unit 06,for example, the sheet gap existing between immediately successivesheets, i.e., the distance resulting for the sheets transported in thegripper closure through offset printing unit 04 due to the gripperchannel width, for example, is preferably reduced in the transfer ofthese sheets from offset printing unit 04 to non-impact printing unit06, wherein such a reduction in distance ranges from 1% to 98%, based onthe original distance, for example. Thus, directly successive sheets arealso transported spaced a distance from one another in non-impactprinting unit 06, but with a typically smaller sheet gap or at a shorterdistance than in offset printing unit 04, and consequently, also at alower second transport speed. This second transport speed is preferablymaintained when sheets that have been printed in non-impact printingunit 06 are first transported to an intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09,and from there, e.g. by means of a feed table, to a mechanical furtherprocessing unit 11 and on to delivery 12. However, the sheets may alsobe changed from their second transport speed to a third transport speed,for example, if required by mechanical further processing unit 11,wherein the third transport speed is typically higher than the secondtransport speed and corresponds, for example, to the first transportspeed prevailing in offset printing unit 04, in particular. Upstream ofmechanical further processing unit 11, for example, second transportcylinder assembly 19 is provided, which grips the sheets coming fromintermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09 and transports them to mechanicalfurther processing unit 11. In the area of mechanical further processingunit 11, which comprises a plurality of processing mechanisms 46 in arow, for example, a rotating body, in particular a cylinder, preferablya transfer drum 44, is provided for transferring the sheets from oneprocessing mechanism 46 to the next in a row, each of these rotatingbodies being arranged between two neighboring processing mechanisms 46.One of the processing mechanisms 46 is embodied, for example, as apunching mechanism, and another processing mechanism 46 is embodied, forexample, as a creasing mechanism. The processing mechanisms 46 inquestion are embodied for carrying out the mechanical further processingof the sheets, preferably in cooperation with a cylinder transportingthe respective sheet. After the sheets and/or the copies separatedtherefrom have undergone mechanical further processing, they aretransported by means of a chain conveyor 21, for example, to delivery12, where they are collected, preferably being stacked.

The sheets are transported from the outlet of offset printing unit 04 atleast up to the outlet of intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09, preferablyto the intake of mechanical further processing unit 11, by means of amultipart transport apparatus, i.e. a transport apparatus consisting ofa plurality of modules, in particular transport units, arranged onebehind the other in transport direction T of the sheets, wherein thetransport apparatus has a plurality of transport cylinders. Anintermediate dryer 07 or a dryer 09 may also be disposed between offsetprinting unit 04 and non-impact printing unit 06 as needed.

FIGS. 3 through 8 schematically illustrate examples of additionalmachine arrangements, each comprising a plurality of processing stations01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, wherein the reference numeralsdenote processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12explained above as well as additional ones of their respectiveassemblies.

FIG. 3 shows a machine arrangement comprising the following processingstations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 arranged one behind theother in transport direction T of the printing stock: sheet feed unit01; primer application unit 02 or coating unit 08; intermediate dryer07; non-impact printing unit 06; intermediate dryer 07; coating unit 08;dryer 09; delivery 12.

FIG. 4 shows a machine arrangement comprising the following processingstations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 arranged one behind theother in transport direction T of the printing stock: sheet feed unit01; primer application unit 02; intermediate dryer 07; non-impactprinting unit 06; dryer 09; delivery 12.

FIG. 5 shows a machine arrangement comprising the following processingstations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 arranged one behind theother in transport direction T of the printing stock: sheet feed unit01; primer application unit 02; intermediate dryer 07; non-impactprinting unit 06; intermediate dryer 07; coating unit 08; intermediatedryer 07; coating unit 08; dryer 09; delivery 12.

FIG. 6 shows a machine arrangement comprising the following processingstations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 arranged one behind theother in transport direction T of the printing stock: sheet feed unit01; a first offset printing unit 04; cold foil application unit 03; fouradditional offset printing units 04 based on the unit constructionprinciple; intermediate dryer 07; non-impact printing unit 06;intermediate dryer 07; non-impact printing unit 06; dryer 09; delivery12.

FIG. 7 shows a machine arrangement, which is shown with an offset due toits length, comprising the following processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04;06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 arranged one behind the other in transportdirection T of the printing stock: sheet feed unit 01; a first offsetprinting unit 04; cold foil application unit 03; four additional offsetprinting units 04 based on the unit construction principle; intermediatedryer 07; non-impact printing unit 06; intermediate dryer 07; coatingunit 08; dryer 09; two mechanical further processing units 11 in theunit construction principle; delivery 12.

FIG. 8 shows a machine arrangement comprising the following processingstations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 arranged one behind theother in transport direction T of the printing stock: magazine feed unit01; primer application unit 02; intermediate dryer 07; non-impactprinting unit 06; intermediate dryer 07; coating unit 08; dryer 09;delivery 12.

As has already been mentioned, it is provided that with the machinearrangements described above, each comprising a plurality of processingstations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 for processing sheetsand for transporting these sheets, each has at least one transportapparatus for processing sheets of different formats, i.e., of differentlengths and/or widths. Thus, the sheets, which are usually rectangular,differ, e.g. in terms of their respective length, this length extendingin transport direction T of the sheets in each case. When a processingstation 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 embodied in particular as anon-impact printing unit 06 to which sheets are fed sequentially isused, to avoid a decrease in productivity of a machine arrangement whenprocessing comparatively shorter sheets, i.e. sheets of a smaller formatthan larger-format sheets that are otherwise processed in said machinearrangement, a method having the following method steps is proposed:

A method for operating a transport apparatus for supplying a pluralityof sheets sequentially to a processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08;09; 11; 12, wherein sheets of different lengths, said length extendingin transport direction T of the sheets, are used for processing by thesame processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, wherein thesheets to be supplied one after another to processing station 02; 03;04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 are transported by the transport apparatusspaced a distance from one another, wherein the transport apparatusimpresses a transport speed on each of the sheets to be transported,wherein the distance between immediately successive sheets for sheets ofdifferent lengths extending in transport direction T of these sheets iskept constant by adjusting the transport speed to be impressed upon thesheet in question by the transport apparatus, wherein the transportspeed of a subsequent sheet in transport direction T is adjusted inrelation to the transport speed of the sheet immediately preceding it.To achieve and/or maintain a high productivity to be rendered byprocessing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, the sheets to besupplied one after another to the relevant processing station 02; 03;04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 are each preferably transported by thetransport apparatus at a minimal distance, but at a distance that istypically not equal to zero. The distance between successive sheets intransport direction T, i.e., between the rear edge of a preceding sheetextending transversely to transport direction T and the front edge ofthe immediately subsequent sheet extending transversely to transportdirection T, ranges from 0.5 mm to 50 mm, for example, and is preferablyless than 10 mm. If a sheet having a shorter length is to be processedafter a sheet of greater length in the processing station 02; 03; 04;06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 in question, the transport apparatus willaccelerate the sheet having a shorter length by increasing its transportspeed. Conversely, a sheet of greater length will be decelerated by thetransport apparatus by decreasing its transport speed if the sheet ofgreater length is to be processed in the processing station 02; 03; 04;06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 in question after a sheet of shorter length. Anon-impact printing unit 06, the productivity of which is usuallygreatest when the sheets to be printed by it are supplied to it insuccession at a constant minimal distance, regardless of theirrespective format, is preferably used as processing station 02; 03; 04;06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12. If a processing station 04 embodied as an offsetprinting unit 04, for example, is provided upstream of non-impactprinting unit 06 in a machine arrangement, then regardless of theirformat, sheets printed in offset printing unit 04 will be supplied tothe transport apparatus at a transport speed corresponding to aproduction speed of this offset printing unit 04, with this transportspeed, which is predetermined for these sheets by offset printing unit04, being adapted as they are transported by the transport apparatus tothe transport speed that corresponds to the processing speed ofnon-impact printing unit 06. If these sheets will additionally besupplied to non-impact printing unit 06 at a constant distance from oneanother regardless of their format, then sheets of greater length aredecelerated less than shorter sheets, but in any case, a reduction intheir respective transport speed will be necessary because theprocessing speed of non-impact printing unit 06 is typically lower thanthe production speed of offset printing unit 04.

Each sheet is preferably held in a force-locking manner, for example bysuction air and/or by grippers, during its transport by the transportapparatus. In the preferred embodiment, the transport speed to beimpressed on the sheet in question is adjusted by a preferablyelectronic control unit, wherein the control unit performs theadjustment of the transport speed in particular to maintain a constantdistance between successive sheets, for example, in a control loop. Itis provided, for example, that a sheet to be supplied to mechanicalfurther processing unit 11 is brought by rocking gripper 13 and transferdrum 31 from the second transport speed to the third transport speed,meaning that the sheet in question is accelerated in particular by therotation of transfer drum 31 controlled by the control unit.

FIG. 9 shows another machine arrangement comprising a plurality ofprocessing stations, typically different ones, for the sequentialprocessing of a plurality of sheet-type substrates. The flat substrates,each having a front side and a back side, are gripped by a suction head41, for example, in a feed unit 01 and are transferred individually bymeans of a rocking gripper 13 to a transfer drum 14 and from there to arotating impression cylinder 119, wherein this impression cylinder 119receives on its circumferential surface at least one of these substratesor a plurality thereof, for example, two or three substrates, arrangedin succession in the circumferential direction. Each of the substratesto be transported is held on the circumferential surface of impressioncylinder 119 by means of at least one retaining element embodied as agripper, for example. In particular, flexible and/or thin substrateswith a thickness of up to 0.1 mm, for example, or max. 0.2 mm can alsobe held by suction air on the circumferential surface of impressioncylinder 119, for example, wherein the positioning of such a substrateagainst the circumferential surface of impression cylinder 119, inparticular along the edges of the substrate, is supported, for example,by blower air directed in particular radially toward the circumferentialsurface of impression cylinder 119. Proceeding from the transfer drum14, which is set against this impression cylinder 119, first a firstprimer application unit 02 for priming the front side and, followingthis first primer application unit 02, a second primer application unit126 for priming the back side of the same sheet-type substrate is thrownonto impression cylinder 119 in its direction of rotation, which isindicated by a rotational direction arrow in FIG. 9, wherein the secondprimer application unit 126 primes the back side of the substrate inquestion indirectly, for example, in particular by a reverse transfer ofthe primer applied by this second primer application unit 126 to thecircumferential surface of impression cylinder 119 and from thiscircumferential surface onto the back side of the substrate in question.The front side and/or back side of the substrate in question may beprimed over its full surface or in partial areas as needed. Impressioncylinder 119 transfers a substrate that has been primed on both sides toa first transport apparatus, for example, a transport apparatus havingat least one drawing element, in particular a continuously revolvingtransport apparatus, to a first chain conveyor 16, for example, whereinthis first transport apparatus transports this substrate to a firstnon-impact printing unit 06, wherein this first non-impact printing unit06 at least partially prints the front side of the substrate inquestion. The first non-impact printing unit 06 transfers the substrate,which has been printed on the front side, to a second transportapparatus, for example, a transport apparatus having at least onedrawing element, in particular revolving continuously, for example, to asecond chain conveyor 21, wherein this second transport apparatusreceives the substrate in question, in the area of its first chainwheel, for example. In the area of the second chain wheel of this secondchain conveyor 21, for example, a second non-impact printing unit 127 isdisposed, wherein this second non-impact printing unit 127 at leastpartially prints the back side of the substrate in question, which haspreviously been printed on the front side. Thus, first non-impactprinting unit 06 and second non-impact printing unit 127 are arrangedone behind the other at different positions along the transport path ofthe substrate in question in transport direction T of the respectivesheet-type substrate. The substrate in question, now printed on bothsides, is then dropped onto a pile in a delivery 12.

The machine arrangement for processing the substrate in question on bothsides, illustrated in FIG. 9, has a plurality of dryers 121; 122; 123;124, preferably four, namely a first dryer 121 for drying the primerapplied to the front side of the substrate in question, and a seconddryer 122 for drying the primer applied to the back side of thesubstrate in question. In addition, a third dryer 123 is provided fordrying the substrate in question that has been printed on the front sideby first non-impact printing unit 06, and a fourth dryer 124 is providedfor drying the substrate in question that has been printed on the backby second non-impact printing unit 127. Dryers 121; 122; 123; 124, whichare identical, for example, are embodied for drying the substrate inquestion, for example, by irradiation with infrared or ultravioletradiation, with the type of radiation being dependent, in particular,upon whether the ink or printing ink applied to the substrate inquestion is water-based or UV curing. Transport direction T of thesubstrate in question transported through the machine arrangement isindicated by arrows in FIG. 9. The first non-impact printing unit 06 andthe second non-impact printing unit 127 are each embodied, for example,as at least one inkjet printing unit. In the active region of firstnon-impact printing unit 06, a third transport apparatus is provided,which receives the substrate in question, primed on both sides, from thefirst transport apparatus, transports it to the second transportapparatus and delivers it to this second transport apparatus. The thirdtransport apparatus that transports the substrate in question within theactive region of first non-impact printing unit 06 is embodied as atransport cylinder 128, wherein the preferably multiple inkjet printingunits of the first non-impact printing unit 06 are each arrangedradially to this transport cylinder 128.

The third transport apparatus for transporting the substrate in questionwithin the active region of the first non-impact printing unit 06 andthe second transport apparatus for transporting the substrate inquestion within the active region of the second non-impact printing unit127 preferably each have one dedicated drive, each of these dedicateddrives being embodied as a motor that is preferably electrically drivenand is adjusted or at least adjustable in terms of its rotational speedand/or angular position, wherein the printing of the substrate inquestion on its front side by first non-impact printing unit 06 and onits back side by second non-impact printing unit 127 is or at least canbe synchronized by means of these dedicated drives that influence therespective transport apparatuses in terms of their motion behavior.

In a preferred embodiment, first dryer 121 for drying the primer thathas been applied to the front side of the substrate in question islocated in the region of impression cylinder 119, for example. Seconddryer 122 for drying the primer that has been applied to the back sideof the substrate in question is preferably located in the region of thefirst transport apparatus. Third dryer 123 for drying the substrate inquestion that has been printed on the front side by first non-impactprinting unit 06 is located in the region of the second transportapparatus or is situated in the region of the third transport apparatus,which is in turn situated in the active region of first non-impactprinting unit 06 and cooperates with it. Fourth dryer 124 for drying thesubstrate in question that has been printed on the back by secondnon-impact printing unit 127 is located downstream of the thirdtransport apparatus in transport direction T of the substrate inquestion that is transported through the machine arrangement, forexample.

The machine arrangement illustrated in FIG. 9 can also be described as amachine arrangement for the sequential processing of a plurality ofsheet-type substrates each having a front side and a back side, whereina first non-impact printing unit 06 and a second non-impact printingunit 127 as well as a first primer application unit 02 and a secondprimer application unit 126 are provided, wherein in each case withrespect to the same sheet-type substrate, first primer application unit02 is situated for priming the front side and second primer applicationunit 126 is situated for priming the back side, and wherein with respectto this substrate, first non-impact printing unit 06 is situated forprinting the front side that has been primed by first primer applicationunit 02, and second non-impact printing unit 127 is situated forprinting the back side that has been primed by the second primerapplication unit 126. A first dryer 121 for drying the primer that hasbeen applied to the front side of the substrate in question is providedupstream of first non-impact printing unit 06 in transport direction Tof the substrate in question, and a second dryer 122 for drying theprimer that has been applied to the back side of the substrate inquestion is arranged upstream of second non-impact printing unit 127 intransport direction T of the substrate in question, and a third dryer123 for drying the substrate in question that has been printed on thefront side by first non-impact printing unit 06 is provided downstreamof first non-impact printing unit 06 in transport direction T of thesubstrate in question, and a fourth dryer 124 for drying the substratein question that has been printed on the back side by second non-impactprinting unit 127 is provided downstream of second non-impact printingunit 127 in transport direction T of the substrate in question. Thesecond primer application unit 126 may optionally be located upstream ordownstream of second non-impact printing unit 127 in transport directionT of the substrate in question. First dryer 121 for drying the primerapplied to the front side of the substrate in question, and/or seconddryer 122 for drying the primer applied to the back side of thesubstrate in question, and/or third dryer 123 for drying the substratein question that has been printed by first non-impact printing unit 06and/or fourth dryer 124 for drying the substrate in question that hasbeen printed on the back side by second non-impact printing unit 127 areeach embodied, for example, as a dryer that dries the primed and/orprinted substrate in question using hot air and/or by irradiation withinfrared or ultraviolet radiation, wherein dryer 121; 122; 123; 124 thatdries the primed and/or printed substrate in question by irradiationwith infrared or ultraviolet radiation is preferably embodied as an LEDdryer, i.e., as a dryer that uses semiconductor diodes. In addition, atleast one transport apparatus for transporting the substrate in questionis provided, wherein this transport apparatus is embodied as a transportcylinder or as a revolving transport belt or as a chain conveyor. The atleast one transport apparatus for transporting the substrate in questionhas at least one retaining element, wherein the at least one retainingelement is embodied to hold the substrate in question in a force-lockingor a form-fitting manner.

FIG. 10 shows yet another advantageous machine arrangement for thesequential processing of a plurality of sheet-type substrates eachhaving a front side and a back side. This machine arrangement,preferably embodied as a printing machine, in particular as a sheet-fedprinting machine, comprises at least one first printing cylinder 117 andone second printing cylinder 118. At least one first non-impact printingunit 06 for printing on the front side of the substrate in question,and, downstream of the first non-impact printing unit 06 in thedirection of rotation of the first printing cylinder 117, a dryer 123that dries the front side of the substrate in question that has beenprinted by first non-impact printing unit 06 are provided, each on theperiphery of the first printing cylinder 117, and at least one secondnon-impact printing unit 127 for printing on the back side of thesubstrate in question, and, downstream of the second non-impact printingunit 127 in the direction of rotation of the second printing cylinder118, a dryer 124 for drying the back side of the substrate in questionthat has been printed by the second non-impact printing unit 127 areprovided, each on the periphery of the second printing cylinder 118.First non-impact printing unit 06 and second non-impact printing unit127 are each embodied, e.g. as at least one inkjet printing unit. Firstnon-impact printing unit 06 and/or second non-impact printing unit 127each print in a plurality of printing inks, for example, four printinginks, in particular the printing inks yellow, magenta, cyan and black,wherein a specific inkjet printing unit is preferably provided for eachof these printing inks in each of the non-impact printing units 06; 127in question.

In the machine arrangement according to FIG. 10, first printing cylinder117 and second printing cylinder 118 are arranged such that they form acommon roller nip, wherein in this common roller nip, first printingcylinder 117 transfers the substrate in question, which has been printedon the front side and dried, directly to second printing cylinder 118.In the preferred embodiment of this machine arrangement, a first primerapplication unit 02 and a second primer application unit 126 are alsoprovided, wherein the first primer application unit 02 is arranged toprime the front side and the second primer application unit 126 isarranged to prime the back side of the same sheet-type substrate in eachcase, wherein with respect to this substrate, first non-impact printingunit 06 is arranged to print the front side that has been primed byfirst primer application unit 02, and second non-impact printing unit127 is arranged to print the back side that has been primed by secondprimer application unit 126. First primer application unit 02 and secondprimer application unit 126 each comprise an impression cylinder 119,for example, wherein these two impression cylinders 119 are arranged toform a common roller nip, wherein in this common roller nip, theimpression cylinder 119 that has the first primer application unit 02transfers the substrate in question directly to the impression cylinder119 that has the second primer application unit 126. The impressioncylinder 119 that has the second primer application unit 126 and thefirst printing cylinder 117 that has the first non-impact printing unit06 are arranged to form a common roller nip, wherein the impressioncylinder 119 that has the second primer application unit 126 transfersthe substrate in question directly to the first printing cylinder 117that has the first non-impact printing unit 06.

A dryer 121 for drying the front side of the substrate in question thathas been primed by the first primer application unit 02 is disposed onthe periphery of the impression cylinder 119 that has this first primerapplication unit 02, typically directly downstream of the first primerapplication unit 02, for example, and/or a dryer 122 for drying the backside of the substrate in question that has been primed by the secondprimer application unit 126 is arranged on the periphery of theimpression cylinder 119 that has this second primer application unit126, typically immediately downstream of the second primer applicationunit 126. Dryer 121 for drying the primer applied to the front side ofthe substrate in question, and/or dryer 122 for drying the primerapplied to the back side of the substrate in question, and/or dryer 123for drying the substrate in question that has been printed on the frontside by first non-impact printing unit 06, and/or dryer 124 for dryingthe substrate in question that has been printed on the back side bysecond non-impact printing unit 127 is/are each embodied as a dryer thatdries the primed and/or printed substrate in question using hot airand/or by irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation. In aparticularly preferred embodiment, dryer 121; 122; 123; 124 that driesthe primed and/or printed substrate in question by irradiation withinfrared or ultraviolet radiation is embodied as an LED dryer, i.e., asa dryer that generates infrared or ultraviolet radiation by means ofsemiconductor diodes.

Moreover, in the machine arrangement according to FIG. 10, firstprinting cylinder 117 and second printing cylinder 118 and theimpression cylinder 119 that has first primer application unit 02 andthe impression cylinder 119 that has second primer application unit 126are each connected to one another, preferably in a single drive trainformed from gear wheels, i.e., in a gear train, and are driven jointlyin their respective rotation by a single drive, wherein this drive ispreferably embodied as an electric motor, in particular as aspeed-controlled and/or position-controlled electric motor. Firstprinting cylinder 117 and second printing cylinder 118 and theimpression cylinder 119 that has first primer application unit 02 andthe impression cylinder 119 that has second primer application unit 126are each embodied as multiple-sized, for example, i.e., a plurality ofsubstrates, e.g. two or three or four, is or at least can be arrangedone behind the other in the circumferential direction on theircircumferential surface. Each one of the substrates to be transported isretained in a force-locking and/or form-fitting manner on thecircumferential surface of first printing cylinder 117 and/or of secondprinting cylinder 118 and/or of the impression cylinder 119 that hasfirst primer application unit 02 and/or of the impression cylinder 119that has second primer application unit 126, the retention being bymeans of at least one retaining element embodied as grippers, forexample. In particular, flexible and/or thin substrates having athickness of up to 0.1 mm, for example, or max. 0.2 mm may be held in aforce-locking manner, for example, by means of suction air on thecircumferential surface of the cylinder 117; 118; 119 in question,wherein the positioning of such a substrate against the circumferentialsurface of the cylinder 117; 118; 119 in question, in particular alongthe edges of this substrate, is supported, for example, by blower airdirected in particular radially toward the circumferential surface ofthe cylinder 117; 118; 119 in question.

The substrate in question that has been printed on both sides is thenpreferably transported, following its transport through second printingcylinder 118, by means of a transport apparatus to a delivery 12, forexample, and is deposited onto a pile in delivery 12. The transportapparatus connected to second printing cylinder 118 is embodied, forexample, as a chain conveyor, wherein the substrate in question ispreferably dried again on both sides by means of at least one dryer 09during its transport by this transport apparatus and before beingdeposited in delivery 12. In some production lines, the intention may befor the substrate in question that has already been printed on the frontside by first non-impact printing unit 06 and/or on the back side bysecond non-impact printing unit 127 to be printed on one or both sideswith additional printing inks, in particular special inks, and/orsurface finished by a coating application, for example. In this lattercase, following second printing cylinder 118, upstream of the transportapparatus for transporting the substrate in question to delivery 12, atleast one additional printing cylinder is provided, for example a thirdprinting cylinder, or preferably at least one additional cylinder pairformed by a third printing cylinder and a fourth printing cylinder, onwhich at least one additional printing cylinder, for example a thirdand/or a fourth printing cylinder, is arranged in the same manner as onfirst printing cylinder 117 and/or on second printing cylinder 118, eachin turn forming an additional printing unit, in particular an additionalnon-impact printing unit, or at least one coating unit 08, eachoptionally having an additional dryer. All of these printing cylindersaligned in a row then form a continuous transport path for the substratein question in the machine arrangement in question, in which thissubstrate is then transferred from one printing cylinder to the next.The substrate in question can be processed, in particular printed, onboth sides, without requiring a turning unit 23 for this substrate inthis machine arrangement. The proposed machine arrangement is thus verycompact and inexpensively constructed. The machine arrangementillustrated in FIG. 10 is particularly advantageous in combination withUV curing inks, for example, in printing packaging for food items orcosmetics.

FIG. 11 shows as an example a machine arrangement comprising a pluralityof processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, theprocessing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 beingarranged one behind the other in transport direction T of thesubstrates. Each of the processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08;09; 11; 12 is embodied as an independently functional module, with eachof the modules forming a machine unit installed in its own frame. In thepreferred embodiment, the modules that are embodied as a coating unit02; 03; 08 (i.e., primer application unit 02; 126, cold foil applicationunit 03 and coating unit 08) or as a dryer 07; 09; 121; 122; 123; 124 oras a printing unit 04; 06; 127 or as a mechanical further processingunit 11 each has a substrate guide unit 24 and a substrate processingunit 26. The substrate guide unit 24 has a transport cylinder assembly17; 19 for transporting the substrates, for example, or one or moretransport cylinders 128 or one or more transfer drums 43; 44. Substrateprocessing unit 26 comprises the actual coating unit 02; 03; 08 or dryer07; 09; 121; 122; 123; 124 or at least one printing forme 86; 87; 88 ofprinting unit 04; 06; 127 or at least one processing unit 46 ofmechanical further processing unit 11, depending on the type ofprocessing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 in each case.

The machine arrangement illustrated in FIG. 11 is a machine arrangementfor perfecting printing and, starting from a feed unit 01 embodied as asheet feed unit 01 or a magazine feed unit 01 that grips stackedsubstrates one after another with a suction head 41, for example, andfrom a downstream rocking gripper 13 with a transfer drum 14, comprisesa coating unit 02; 03; 08, in particular in the form of a first primerapplication unit 02, followed by a first dryer 07; 121, one behind theother in transport direction T of the substrates (sheets). Thesubstrates pretreated on the front side in this way are then each sentto a first non-impact printing unit 06 for printing the front side ofthe substrates with a first printing cylinder 22; 117, wherein thisfirst printing cylinder 22; 117 is preferably embodied as triple-sizedor quadruple-sized, which means that this first printing cylinder 22;117 has at least enough retaining elements on its periphery that threeor four substrates are or at least can be arranged such they are held ina force-locking manner and/or in a form-fitting manner one behind theother on its periphery. As a rule, at least one retaining element isassigned to each substrate to be held on the periphery of printingcylinder 22; 117, wherein retaining elements that are assigned todifferent substrates can each be operated separately, i.e.,independently of one another. Retaining elements embodied as grippersare disposed in a channel, in particular, each channel extending axiallyon the circumferential surface of the printing cylinder 22; 117 inquestion. This means that, for example, if four substrates can bearranged along the periphery of printing cylinder 22; 117, the printingcylinder 22; 117 in question will have four channels, with at least oneretaining element being disposed in each channel. It is also possiblefor at least two retaining elements to be arranged in a channel, whereinone of these retaining elements holds an edge of a first one of thesesubstrates, said edge being at the rear in transport direction T of thesubstrates, and another one of these retaining elements holds a frontedge of a second substrate directly following the first substrate on theperiphery of the printing cylinder 22; 117 in question, said edge beingat the front in transport direction T of the substrates. Preferably, aplurality of inkjet printing units is arranged one behind the otheralong a part of the periphery of first printing cylinder 22; 117. In thepreferred embodiment, a substrate guide unit 24 embodied as a simpletransport module without an additional substrate processing unit 26follows the first non-impact printing unit 06. This transport module isalso mounted in a separate frame. In this machine arrangement, thissubstrate guide unit 24 allows the formation of a sufficiently widetransverse gallery which in turn improves accessibility to firstnon-impact printing unit 06, for example, for maintenance and/or repairwork. Downstream of substrate guide unit 24, a second dryer 09; 123 fordrying the printed front side of the substrates is provided. Seconddryer 09; 123 is followed by a turning device 23, which makes itpossible for the back side of the substrates to be printed subsequently.As described previously for front side printing, i.e., for printing thefront side, the substrates coming from turning device 23 are sent firstto a second primer application unit 126 which treats the back side ofthe substrates, and then to a third dryer 07; 122. This is followed by asecond non-impact printing unit 127, which prints the back side of thesubstrates with a second printing cylinder 118, wherein this secondprinting cylinder 118 is again preferably embodied as triple-sized orquadruple-sized, which means that this second printing cylinder 118 hason its periphery enough retaining elements that three or four substratesare or at least can be arranged one behind the other and held in aforce-locking and/or form-fitting manner. Along part of the periphery ofsecond printing cylinder 118, a plurality of inkjet printing units ispreferably arranged one behind the other. For the same reason as hasalready been explained, a substrate guide unit 24 is preferably alsolocated downstream of second non-impact printing unit 127 without anadditional substrate processing unit 26. This is followed by a fourthdryer 09; 124 for drying the printed back side of the substrates. In thepreferred embodiment, this is followed by a coating unit 08. The coatedsubstrates are then dried in an additional dryer 09, wherein this dryer09 is arranged, for example, in the transport path of a transportapparatus embodied as a chain conveyor 21, wherein this transportapparatus transports the substrates to a delivery 12, in particular to amulti-pile delivery, and are delivered there. In the machine arrangementof FIG. 11 the substrate guide units 24, each having a transportcylinder assembly 17; 19, apart from the two printing cylinders 22; 117;118, are preferably each embodied as double-sized, so that twosubstrates are or at least can be arranged one behind another on theperiphery of the transport cylinder 128 or the transfer drums 43; 44.

FIG. 12 shows as an example a machine arrangement for one-sidedprocessing of substrates, in particular for the one-sided printingthereof. The substrates coming from a feed unit 01 are transferred bymeans of a rocking gripper 13 to a transfer drum 14 and from there arefed via a substrate guide unit 24 having, for example, only a singletransport cylinder 128 or only a single transfer drum 43; 44 to anon-impact printing unit 06 having a triple-sized or quadruple-sizedprinting cylinder 22; 117, which prints the front side of each of thesubstrates. To improve the positioning of the substrates against thecircumferential surface of printing cylinder 22; 117, for example, ablower air device 27 and/or a pressing element 28, for example, in theform of a smoothing roller are provided. This is followed by a substrateguide unit 24 with a transport cylinder assembly 17; 19 having at leasttwo transport cylinders 128 or transfer drums 43; 44. These are thenfollowed by a dryer 07 and a coating unit 08. The coated substrates arethen dried in an additional dryer 09, wherein this dryer 09 is againarranged, for example, in the transport path of a transport apparatusembodied as a chain conveyor 21, wherein this transport apparatustransports the substrates to a delivery 12 and delivers them there.Substrate guide units 24, apart from printing cylinders 22; 117,preferably have transport cylinders 128 or transfer drums 43; 44 thatare each embodied as double-sized. A substrate guide unit 24 with atransport cylinder assembly 17; 19 having at least two transportcylinders 128 or transfer drums 43; 44 extends in transport direction Tof the substrates over a length corresponding to at least one-and-a-halftimes the diameter of the transport cylinder 128 or transfer drum 43; 44in question.

FIGS. 13 to 15 each show as an example a machine arrangement for theone-sided processing of substrates, in particular for the one-sidedprinting thereof, wherein a primer application unit 02 and a dryer 07are provided downstream of feed unit 01. These are followed in themachine arrangement by a non-impact printing unit 06, a substrate guideunit 24, another dryer 07, a coating unit 08 and a dryer 09 arranged,for example, in the transport path of a transport apparatus embodied asa chain conveyor 21, wherein this transport apparatus transports thesubstrates to a delivery 12 and delivers them there.

In the machine arrangement of FIG. 13, printing cylinder 22; 117 isembodied as quadruple-sized. The quadruple-sized printing cylinder 22;117 receives the substrates to be printed from a transfer drum 43immediately upstream, which is embodied as triple-sized. In the machinearrangement of FIG. 14, printing cylinder 22; 117 is likewise embodiedas quadruple-sized, however quadruple-sized printing cylinder 22; 117transfers the printed substrates to a transfer drum 44 directlydownstream of this printing cylinder 22; 117 and embodied astriple-sized. FIG. 14 shows the quadruple-sized embodiment of printingcylinder 22; 117, with a double-sized embodiment of transfer drum 43directly upstream of this printing cylinder 22; 117. The circumferentialsurface of printing cylinder 22; 117 and transfer drum 43 are preferablyarranged in physical contact with one another due to the formation of acommon roller strip 32. In the machine arrangement of FIG. 15, printingcylinder 22; 117 and the transfer drum 43 immediately upstream of thisprinting cylinder 22; 117 are each embodied as triple-sized. The machinearrangements of FIGS. 13 to 15 each differ in terms of the format ofprinting cylinder 22; 117 and a transfer drum 43; 44 immediatelyupstream or downstream of this printing cylinder 22; 117. A printingcylinder 22; 117 embodied as quadruple-sized has a diameter of approx.1200 mm, for example. A transfer drum 43 embodied as double-sized has adiameter of approx. 600 mm, for example. The format of printing cylinder22; 117 and the format of a transfer drum 43; 44 immediately upstream ordownstream of this printing cylinder 22; 117 are determined by thenumber of retaining elements arranged on the respective circumference ofeach, wherein the retaining elements hold each of the substrates in aforce-locking and/or a form-fitting manner on the periphery of theprinting cylinder 22; 117 or the transfer drum 43; 44 in question. Aplurality of inkjet printing units and, e.g. a blower air device 27and/or a pressing element 28, e.g. in the form of a smoothing roller,are arranged on the periphery of each printing cylinder 22; 117 inquestion.

While preferred embodiments of a machine arrangement and method forsequential processing of sheet-type substrates, in accordance with thepresent invention, have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove,it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changescould be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention which is accordingly to be limited only by the appendedclaims.

1. A machine arrangement for the sequential processing of sheet-typesubstrates, comprising a plurality of different processing stations,wherein one of the processing stations includes a non-impact printingunit (06) for printing each of the substrates, wherein a primerapplication unit (02) for priming each of the substrates and a dryer(07; 121) for drying the primer applied to the substrates in questionare provided as additional processing stations, wherein the primerapplication unit (02) and the dryer (07; 121) are each arranged upstreamof the non-impact printing unit (06) in the transport direction (T) ofthe substrates in question, wherein the processing station that includesthe non-impact printing unit (06) includes a printing cylinder (117),wherein the non-impact printing unit (06) for printing each of thesubstrates is located on the periphery of the printing cylinder (117).2. The machine arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in thatdownstream of the processing station that includes the non-impactprinting unit (06) for printing each of the substrates, in the transportdirection (T) of the substrates in question, a processing station havinga dryer (123) is provided for drying the substrates in question thathave been printed by said non-impact printing unit (06).
 3. The machinearrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the dryer (07;121) for drying the primer that is applied to each of the substrates inquestion, and/or the dryer (123) for drying the substrates in questionthat have each been printed by the non-impact printing unit (06) is/areembodied as dryers for drying each of the primed and/or printedsubstrates in question using hot air and/or by irradiation with infraredor ultraviolet radiation.
 4. The machine arrangement according to claim3, characterized in that the dryer (07; 09; 121; 122; 123; 124) fordrying each of the substrates in question by irradiation with infraredor ultraviolet radiation is embodied as an LED dryer.
 5. The machinearrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that three or foursubstrates are or at least can be arranged one behind the other in thecircumferential direction on the circumferential surface of eachprinting cylinder (117), wherein each of the substrates to betransported on the circumferential surface of the printing cylinder(117) is held in a force-locking and/or form-fitting manner by means ofat least one retaining element.
 6. The machine arrangement according toclaim 1, characterized in that a transport apparatus having a pluralityof transport units arranged one behind the other in the transportdirection (T) of the substrates is provided, wherein this transportapparatus includes a plurality of transport cylinders, wherein thetransport apparatus for transporting the substrates includes at leastone retaining element, wherein the at least one retaining element holdseach substrate in question by means of a force-locking closure or aform-fitting closure.
 7. The machine arrangement according to claim 1,characterized in that the non-impact printing unit (06) for printingeach of the substrates is embodied as at least one inkjet printing unit,and/or in that each of these non-impact printing units (06; 127) printswith a plurality of different printing inks, wherein in each of thenon-impact printing units (06; 127) in question, one designated inkjetprinting unit is provided for each of these printing inks.
 8. Themachine arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a feedunit (01) and a rocking gripper (13) that cooperates with a transferdrum (14) are provided, wherein the substrates are picked up in the feedunit (01) and are transferred individually by means of the rockinggripper (13) to the transfer drum (14) and from there to a rotatingimpression cylinder (119).
 9. The machine arrangement according to claim8, characterized in that each impression cylinder (119) is embodied toaccommodate two or three substrates arranged one behind the other in thecircumferential direction on its circumferential surface.
 10. Themachine arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that each ofthe substrates to be transported is held on the circumferential surfaceof the impression cylinder (119) by means of at least one retainingelement embodied as a gripper.
 11. The machine arrangement according toclaim 8, characterized in that the processing station that includes theprimer application unit (02) includes a printing couple cylinder (82)that cooperates with the impression cylinder (119) and has a formeroller (83) in the form of an anilox roller (83), which is or at leastcan be thrown onto said printing couple cylinder (82), and also includesat least one doctor blade (84) extending in the axial direction of theforme roller (83), or an ink chamber blade system (84).
 12. The machinearrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that at least thoseprocessing stations that include the non-impact printing unit (06) forprinting the substrates, or the primer application unit (02) for primingthe substrates, or the dryer (121) situated downstream of said primerapplication unit (02), or each one of the processing stations (01; 02;03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12) is/are each mounted in its own frame asan autonomously installed machine unit or functional subassembly. 13.The machine arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that eachrespective printing cylinder (22; 117) is embodied as triple-sized orquadruple-sized.
 14. The machine arrangement according to claim 1,characterized in that a transfer drum (43) embodied as double-sized ortriple-sized is disposed immediately upstream of the printing cylinder(22; 117) assigned to the non-impact printing unit (06) for printing thesubstrates, or a transfer drum (44) embodied as double-sized ortriple-sized is disposed immediately downstream of said printingcylinder.
 15. The machine arrangement according to claim 1,characterized in that a transport module in the form of a substrateguide unit (24) without a substrate processing unit (26) is disposedimmediately upstream and/or immediately downstream of the processingstation that includes the printing cylinder (22; 117) assigned to thenon-impact printing unit (06) for printing the substrates.